Parliamentary Proceedings
A significant development unfolded in the Lok Sabha on Wednesday as the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Amendment Bill, 2026, was referred to a 31-member Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) amidst vehement protests from the Opposition.
The move to constitute a JPC was announced through a supplementary list, and Minister of State for Home Nityanand Rai presented the motion before the House, as Union Home Minister Amit Shah was listed but absent. The Opposition vehemently demanded the withdrawal of the Bill, alleging it targets minority institutions and NGOs.
Opposition Concerns
Prominent leaders, including K.C. Venugopal from the Congress and Akhilesh Yadav from the Samajwadi Party, expressed strong reservations about the proposed legislation. They argued that it unfairly targets NGOs, particularly those run by minority communities, and demanded its withdrawal.
The DMK’s T.R. Baalu also joined in, calling for the Bill’s withdrawal. In response, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju challenged the Opposition to identify any clause that specifically targets minorities, inviting them to raise their concerns within the JPC.
Committee Composition and Timeline
The JPC, comprising 21 members from the Lok Sabha and 10 from the Rajya Sabha, is tasked with submitting its report by the end of the first week of the Winter Session of Parliament. The committee’s composition and the deadline for its report have been set, paving the way for further deliberations on the Bill.
The Lok Sabha Speaker, Om Birla, urged the Opposition to allow the House to function smoothly, emphasizing that the country expects constructive proceedings despite differing opinions.
Source: Original Article
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